Christian Parent, Crazy World

When it comes to blowing up at our kids, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when. It happens to the best of us. But often the inciting incident isn’t the real issue because the thing that sets us off isn’t the root of the problem. We’ve got to dig up the root if we want to get rid of the bitter fruit.   In this episode, Catherine continues her encouraging and incredibly practical conversation with Kirsten Vossler, a mother of 9 and host of the The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Together, these mamas dig deep to find out what is really going on when that one last nerve is raw and exposed and we just can’t seem to keep it together. They also discuss how to exercise restraint and not indulge that fleshly desire to yell at our kids. The key is leaning into the Holy Spirit.   Using the 7 steps that Kirsten outlined in Episode 74, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and control our tongues, and getting to the root of what is really bothering will help us to mature as parents and believers. And as we commit to these steps, we will blow it a lot less with our kids.   Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.   Kirsten’s Website Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood   OTHER PODCASTS/EPISODES REFERENCED:   EPISODE 74 – 7 Steps to Reset When You’ve Blown It with Your Kids (w/ Kirsten Vossler)   Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast EPISODE 120 – Dispelling 5 Cultural Myths about Motherhood (w/ Catherine Segars) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As a Christian parent, you can never have too many resources! Hear compelling segments from three fascinating LifeAudio shows hosted by Christian homeschooling moms and discover a new podcast you'll love!  Subscribe to the featured shows below & listen to more of their episodes! Empowering Homeschool Conversations with Peggy Ployhar: https://apple.co/3rStaIj / https://sptfy.com/P4uL  Real Refreshment with Rachael Carman: https://apple.co/400Tq00 / https://sptfy.com/P4uJ  Homeschooling Families with Leslie Nunnery: https://apple.co/45y46UT / https://sptfy.com/P4uK  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Let’s be honest… sometimes we blow it as parents. We lose our temper and fly off the handle. It is vital that we know how to reset when we do. All the hard work we do as parents to strategically establish a solid spiritual foundation for our kids will be severely comprised if our relationship is broken.   Catherine’s special guest in this episode is a pro on the parenting front. With nine kids, Kirsten Vossler is devoted to mothering full-time, and she imparts her hard-earned wisdom weekly on The Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast. Kirsten shares with the CPCW audience seven vital steps that we should take when we blow it with our kids. Those steps are:   1. Stop. (Easier said than done, but shut your mouth.) 2. Get alone. Remove yourself physically from the crazy situation. 3. Cry out to God. Be honest. 4. Ask God what He wants to say to you. Not to your kids. To you. He will bring identity, clarity, and perspective to you and the situation. 5. Repent to God first. 6. Repent to your child. Humble yourself. Say “I messed up. Jesus would never talk to you like that.” Acknowledge their pain. Say “I’m sorry.” And ask for forgiveness. 7. Be tender with your child as they are healing.   These steps walk us through the full cycle of repentance. Committing to this process is a critical part of discipling our kids because not only will it help to heal the damage we have caused in the parent-child relationship, it also models for our kids what true repentance looks like.   Kirsten Vossler’s Bio: Kirsten is a mother of 9, yes you heard that right—9 kiddos. She has been a Children’s pastor, a worship leader, a writer, a conference speaker, and now she is host of the Rejoicing in Motherhood Podcast.   Kirsten’s Website Kirsten’s Podcast: Rejoicing in Motherhood   Bible Verse Referenced:   Psalm 90:4 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There are some sins that seem unforgivable… and yet God forgives. But He doesn’t forgive because those sins are okay. He doesn’t brush those sins under the rug and say, “I’ll let it slide this time, but try your best not to torture, rape, or murder anyone again.”  That is not God’s response to these heinous acts.   So what is His response?   His response is the cross. His response was to take that sin upon Himself and pay the price so that every heinous act is punished. Every sin is paid for.   To thoroughly unpack this difficult topic, Catherine continues her conversation with Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview, concluding last week’s conversation which analyzed some of the complaints and inaccurate portrayals of God in the deconstruction movement. In this episode, Catherine and Elizabeth discuss who God is more fully, in particular the extent of His mercy which forgives all who repent.   The fact that God is willing to forgive horrific crimes against innocent human beings is hard to fathom. But God’s mercy does not mean that the horrible things that happen in this world are not relevant or significant. God is not cavalier about these abhorrent sins. Quite the contrary. He paid the ultimate price to cover these sins.   Understanding all of God’s attributes is necessary in order to understand who He is. We cannot separate His mercy from His justice. But mercy and justice are perfectly satisfied at the cross in Christ, which enables God to forgive every sin.   Elizabeth’s bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.   Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.   To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.   COUPON CODE:   Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.   Foundation Worldview Website: https://foundationworldview.com/   OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   Episode 72: What Do Deconstructionists Often Get Wrong about God?   RESOURCES CONSULTED:   Presbyterians’ Decision to Drop Hymn Stirs Debate (USA Today, 8/5/13)   SCRIPTURE REFERENCED:   Romans 8:28 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

  Deconstruction is a growing trend within evangelical circles. With a majority of Christian kids leaving the faith after they leave the nest, the number of young people sharing stories of how they are dismantling their faith is on the rise. Many of these stories have inaccurate or incomplete depictions of God.   Richard Dawkins opens the second chapter of his New York Times best-selling book The God Delusion describing the God of the Old Testament as “arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”   With false depictions of God rampant in our culture, a proper understanding of who God is according to His Word is vital for our children’s spiritual foundation, and for ours.   Catherine’s guest in this episode is a good friend of CPCW. Elizabeth Urbanowicz is founder and CEO of Foundation Worldview, a biblically-based curriculum for teaching children the Christian worldview. Elizabeth joins Catherine to have a deep conversation about who God is, His intrinsic attributes, while addressing some of the most popular complaints about God shared in these deconstruction stories.   We must understand all of God’s attributes. We cannot isolate his mercy and his love from his justice and his holiness as all of these inherent character traits combine to comprise who God is. This conversation will help parents and kids understand the totality of God by addressing some of the most misunderstood parts of the Bible.   Elizabeth’s bio: Elizabeth Urbanowicz holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding materials that effectively met this need, she created a curriculum that did.   Foundation Worldview exists to equip Christian parents with the resources they need to train children to soundly interpret Scripture, carefully evaluate every idea they encounter, and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. Elizabeth firmly believes that the Christian youth exodus can be a thing of the past. When kids are equipped to soundly interpret Scripture, they will quickly develop a biblical worldview. When kids are taught to think well, they can carefully evaluate the messages they are exposed to each day.   To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.   COUPON CODE:   Use the coupon code “CPCW10” to get $10 off any family license with Foundation Worldview.   Foundation Worldview Website: https://foundationworldview.com/   RESOURCES REFERENCED:   EPISODE 57 - How To Teach Our Kids the Christian Worldview (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz)   EPISODE 58 - 7 Lies Culture is Teaching Our Kids: Are They Buying? (w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz)   Richard Dawkin’s quote about the God of the Old Testament from The God Delusion   Portia’s monologue on mercy and justice from The Merchant of Venice   Natasha Crain: A Christian Response to a Viral Deconversion Post Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Brokenness is a reality of life. We all experience it. Something breaks each and every one of us, usually many things. But God promises to use our brokenness to find beauty in this world.   Catherine continues her heart-warming conversation with Andy Howard, a father who received a devastating diagnosis with his first child that broke him. As we heard in the last episode, Andy’s daughter Peyton was born legally blind with 10% brain function. As a baby, Andy was told that she would never walk and would likely never speak. That diagnosis led to a four-year season of depression.   But the skies began to clear on a beach trip when Andy saw a couple picking up sea shells, and whenever they found a broken one, they would throw it back. God spoke so clearly to Andy’s heart that morning, telling him that there is beauty in those broken shells... and Andy has been collecting beautiful broken shells ever since.   In this episode, Catherine and Andy discuss how God is committed to bringing beauty from the broken places in our lives. You will get to peek behind the veil to see what Payton is really experiencing here on earth, and you will learn how to help families who have children with special needs.   “And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28   To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.   ANDY'S BIO: For over 20 years, Andy Howard has served in ministry as a youth pastor and marriage ministry pastor. Andy is an advocate for mental health awareness as he has known the heaviness of depression himself. That battle with depression led Andy to tip the scales at 345 lbs. He was Self medicating a crisis in his family with food. He and his wife Tiffany decided to change that, losing over 350 lbs. combined. They have co-founded a health coaching business called Taking Back My Life, where they have helped thousands of people get healthy and well. Andy is also host of the When Words Don’t Come Easy podcast, and he has authored a book with the same name. You’ll hear more about that in our conversation. He lives with his wife, Tiffany, in Bryan, Texas and their three beautiful daughters, Payton, Parker, and Presley.     OTHER EPISODES IN THIS SERIES:   EPISODE 70: When God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers the Way We Hoped He Would   RESOURCES MENTIONED:   Andy’s WEBSITE Andy’s podcast: When Words Don’t Come Easy Andy’s book: When Words Don’t Come Easy Catherine’s episode with Andy on When Words Don’t Come Easy—From Grief to Redemption: Catherine Segars’ Powerful Story of Faith, Love, and Redemption CPCW Episode 66: “How Can A Good God Allow So Much Evil and Suffering in the World? (w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis)”   SCRIPTURE’S REFERENCED:   Isaiah 61:1-4 Psalm 23 Matthew 7:24-27 Luke 4:14-30           Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It is so hard when God’s answer is no—for us and for our kids. There are times in our lives when we pray and we fast and we hope for a miracle and we speak the Word of God over a situation in our lives—and God is still faithful—but He doesn’t give us the answer we hoped for. The answer we prayed for. The answer that this person might have gotten and that person might have gotten, but for some reason we didn’t.   Catherine’s special guest in this episode has walked that path. A devastating diagnosis with his first child blindsided him and led to a four-year battle with depression. But God met him in the most beautiful way, walking with Andy Howard through his darkest hours as a parent. God has truly brought beauty out of what broke Andy. And what he has learned will bless us all.   In this first installment of a two-part interview, Andy share’s his testimony of receiving a life-altering diagnosis with his first child, Payton, at Dallas Children’s Hospital, how he has worked through an answer from God that wasn’t what he prayed for, and how God spoke a powerful message to him that we all need hear. Tune in next week to hear part two where we find out how God has brought so much beauty out of the broken places in Andy’s life, how his daughter Payton is doing now, and how we can help special needs families in the body of Christ.   To see clips from this interview and find inspiring supplemental quotes and posts, connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook . To receive updates about each new podcast and free resources like Scripture songs, Bible verses to pray over prodigal children, and a topical index of Scriptures for prayer, subscribe to Catherine’s website.   Andy’s bio: For over 20 years, Andy Howard has served in ministry as a youth pastor and marriage ministry pastor. Andy is an advocate for mental health awareness as he has known the heaviness of depression himself. That battle with depression led Andy to tip the scales at 345 lbs. He was self-medicating a crisis in his family with food. He and his wife, Tiffany, decided to change that, losing over 350 lbs. combined. They have co-founded a health coaching business called Taking Back My Life, where they have helped thousands of people get healthy and well. Andy is also host of the When Words Don’t Come Easy podcast, and he has authored a book with the same name. He lives with his wife, Tiffany, in Bryan, Texas and their three beautiful daughters, Payton, Parker, and Presley.     *Please vote for Catherine to Win a Spark Media Ignite Fan Award in the category of “Best Female Host” here: https://www.sparkmedia.ventures/ignite-2023-awards   RESOURCES MENTIONED:   Andy’s WEBSITE Andy’s podcast: When Words Don’t Come Easy Andy’s book: When Words Don’t Come Easy Catherine’s episode with Andy on When Words Don’t Come Easy—From Grief to Redemption: Catherine Segars’ Powerful Story of Faith, Love, and Redemption CPCW Episode 66: “How Can A Good God Allow So Much Evil and Suffering in the World? (w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis)”   SCRIPTURE’S REFERENCED:   Matthew 11:6 Job 13:15 Isaiah 61:1-4 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The LifeAudio Podcast Network is thrilled to announce that Hearing Jesus for Kids is now available on all podcasting apps!  Sometimes people think that the Bible is just for adults, but God actually wants kids to know about Him and encourages parents to raise faithful families. So, on Hearing Jesus for Kids, your children are going to be able to learn all about God’s Big Story and how he shows Himself to us through the Bible. Host & Children's Pastor Rachael Groll is excited to help your kids learn what the stories in the Bible mean so that they can learn how to live out their faith in everyday life! SUBSCRIBE NOW:  Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3sCuEXf   Spotify: https://sptfy.com/OSgW  Rachael Groll's Website: https://shehears.org  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

One prevailing question burns at the heart of each generation—one question keeps them up at night. Understanding this question helps us know how to reach people of every age, especially our kids.   For the Baby Boomers, people born in the 40s, 50, and 60s, that question is:   What is TRUE?   Like the great philosophers of old, this generation was preoccupied with truth.   For Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, that question is:   What is REAL?   This generation invented reality TV because they are preoccupied with finding authenticity.   For Millennials, born between 1981 and 1995, that question is:   What is GOOD?   This generation is deeply concerned about the environment, justice, and contributing to the greater good.   Which brings us to our kids, to Gen Z. What question burns at the heart of this generation? They want to know:   What am I?   Or “Who am I?”   Our kids are preoccupied with understanding their identity.   In this episode of CPCW, Catherine expertly navigates each of these questions in the light of Biblical truth. Every generation is asking a vital question, but they aren’t necessarily asking them in the right order. We cannot know who we are, our true identity, unless we understand what is good. And we can’t understand what is good if we don’t know what is real. And we can’t know what is real unless we first know what is true.   Without a foundation of Biblical truth, we can’t arrive at the correct answer for any of these crucial questions. But when you start with the right question, you can arrive at the correct answer for each generation. Truth is paramount. This is why Jesus’ primary purpose in coming to the earth was to proclaim the truth. Christ said,“For this purpose I was born. For this purpose I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37)   Truth leads to an accurate definition of reality, which leads to the correct definition of what is good, which leads to the proper understand of who we are, our identity.   Moms & Dads, this is the prevailing issue of our kid's day. Identity is it. We must understand what our kids are facing, and how to lead them back to truth.   LINKS:   Read Catherine's new article on Crosswalk: What Question Burns in the Heart of Your Gen Z Child?   RESOURCES REFERENCED/CONSULTED:   CPCW Episode 68: “What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?” (w/ Robby Angle, 8/21/23)   CPCW Episode 23: “What Is the Biggest Threat to Our Faith and Culture Today?” (1/31/22)   The Truth Project (Focus on the Family)   “Powerlifter Reacts To Biological Male Taking Women’s National Record: ‘Completely Unfair’” (The New York Post, 8/16/23)   Midland Public Schools October 2021 Board of Education Meeting (Midland Public Schools, 10/25/21)   “No Litter Boxes for Students Who Identify As Cats: Superintendent” (Patch.com, 2/26/22)   “Kentucky School District: Students Are Dressing and Acting like Cats” (WLWT Channel 5, 8/25/21)   “What’s the Deal with Furries?” (Psychology Today, 7/24/17)   SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:   John 18:37 John 14:6   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Where does discipleship in the home start? Do you use a particular curriculum or a new Bible study or is there a check list that gets the job done? All of those things can be helpful, but they aren’t where discipleship starts. Discipleship needs to begin with a spiritual truth that so many parents miss because often they don’t know it themselves.   That truth is identity.   Understanding our identity in Christ is central to our walk with God, which makes it central to our parenting and our discipleship of our kids and their understanding of who God has created them to be. If we miss the core component of identity, that omission will show up everywhere else.   Joining Catherine to unpack the foundational truth of identity is Robby Angle, President and CEO of Trueface, based in Dawsonville Georgia. A small groups expert, Robby is the author of Embark as well as The Cure for Groups. He also hosts a podcast, Trueface: Beyond The Mask, which helps listeners learn how to increase trust in God and experience his grace.   Robby and his wife, Emily, both worked in professional counseling and aid work, where they served with Samaritan’s Purse in Pakistan and Myanmar overseeing international disaster response teams. They received a Master's in Community Counseling from Appalachian State University, which has equipped them to teach others how to have a deeper relationship with God. They now have 8 children, most of which are adopted.   Together, Catherine and Robby unpack the critical foundation of our shared identity in Christ and then apply that understanding to our children's specific identity, their purpose in life. The theology and practical applications revealed in this episode are indispensable in our parenting and discipling our kids.   EPISODE LINKS:   Robby’s Website: Trueface Robby’s Podcast - Trueface: Beyond The Mask More about Robby Angle: Robby’s Bio   BOOKS REFERENCED:   The Cure: What If God Isn’t Who You Think He Is and Neither Are You by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall The Cure for Parents by Lynch, McNicol, and Thrall The Practice of the Presence by Brother Lawrence Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness by Andrew Murray Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God by Jamie Winship   WEBSITES REFERENCED:   The Giftedness Center – Discovering Your Giftedness: A Step by Step Guide Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.